I have tried to manage on my own with abstinence from that quite mild tobacco habit I have - it is still just as mild as before, has not worsened - but now realize that once again, living alone as I do, with next to no social support structure around me (ie few people to talk to when I get down etc, or, few that I would feel willing to impose on like that), I don't know what else will work as well as this forum, in helping me once again abstain totally from tobacco for a set period of time. But it's a little different this time.

The support I got last time was tremendous and necessary to keep going. But this time around, I do not need so much support. I know this territory, I know I can do it. All I really need is evidence that this topic has been viewed by at least one other member (via a reply). As far as I'm concerned, that will 'lock in' the commitment from my side because as I've said previously, my sense of pride is greater than my desire to smoke. Once even one other member has read my publicly stated promise (resolve), and a reply has been made, I will feel a very strong reluctance to go back on it. So, it is enough that this topic merely exists, and that it is viewed by a few or many, but please don't think I need all the encouragement I received last time around (grateful though I was for it ).

Will I feel some regret (in the next week mostly) for having set this up again? Probably. But I am of sound mind and this is for my own good. Living as socially isolated as this, I'm afraid that the DW community is the only viable place where I can get this done, and really giving up this crap for good is what I always intend, but I'm a bit sick of the desire 'c'mon let's do it just one last time, and from tomorrow we'll never do it again'. That thought is utterly useless and false. We can never give up tomorrow, only today.

It is Thursday 11th April, the time here is 1 pm. I hereby resolve, before the Dhamma Wheel community, that I will not smoke at all for 20 full days and nights, beginning from this moment. Once a single reply has been made, I will regard this promise as being binding. If I break it. I promise to admit this here, in this topic.

Thank you all for reading this,

manas

Last edited by manas on Thu Apr 11, 2013 3:14 am, edited 1 time in total.

You got this, bro! You got this. (don't make me regret this vote of confidence, now )

MichaelThe thoughts I've expressed in the above post are carefully considered and offered in good faith.

And friendliness towards the world is happiness for him who is forbearing with living beings. -- Ud. 2:1To his own ruin the fool gains knowledge, for it cleaves his head and destroys his innate goodness. -- Dhp 72

by the way, the 'edit' I did was merely to 'embolden' the important bit, no words were altered! The 20 day time limit was chosen because it is double what I did last time.

Thank you for your prompt reply, friend. I'm actually looking forward to the next two weeks (that is not to say there won't be some discomfort; there will be, but that's natural and it's fitting; it's cause and effect. If we put crap in to our body, we should not be surprised if it hurts a bit on the way out again). It is MUCH easier to abstain using this system, than trying to do it alone. It's a bit like that system where, in a monastery if you break a rule, you have to confess it, and I heard that this makes it easier to keep to all the rules.

manas wrote:But this time around, I do not need so much support. I know this territory, I know I can do it. All I really need is evidence that this topic has been viewed by at least one other member (via a reply).

manas wrote:But this time around, I do not need so much support. I know this territory, I know I can do it. All I really need is evidence that this topic has been viewed by at least one other member (via a reply).

"No tree becomes rooted and sturdy unless many a wind assails it. For by its very tossing it tightens its grip and plants its roots more securely; the fragile trees are those that have grown in a sunny valley."

A big thank you to everyone who has replied, and in advance to anyone who replies after this post (in case I miss replying to them straight away)

I say this because quite enough members have viewed & commented already that I once again feel 'bound' by this resolve now. For those dear members who have already commented, the best thing to do would be, check back again in 20 days, when I will definitely made the final report. Until then I might not reply so much to this topic, because I find it uncomfortable to feel like the centre of attention, even when all I'm getting is this wonderful and kind support, I still feel like drifting gracefully back to obscurity. Rest assured the pressure is on, and that's good. My pride is greater than my desire to smoke, so it's highly unlikely I would break this resolve.

Don't fret about it too much - you will eventually have complete success.

"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again."

It WILL happen.

With metta,Chris

---The trouble is that you think you have time------Worry is the Interest, paid in advance, on a debt you may never owe------It's not what happens to you in life that is important ~ it's what you do with it ---

Hi Manas. Best wishes on your journey. I'm 31 days into my stop smoking attempt , it's been hard but worth it. I found this website ( nosmoking.org.uk ) to be of great support , it's not a buddhist site of course but the people who use it are very compassionate and caring. There is a forum where you can submit your messages feelings etc and where people reply bit like here really. Everyone on the site are at various stages of quitting smoking.I realise that your commitment is for a limited period but it may help. Hope this helps. Love Jonno.